Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- irreverent
- sincere
- date night
- comfort viewing
What critics said
Critics found the film warmer and more moving than earlier Farrelly comedies but less consistently funny, with a bland and sometimes clumsy execution.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Hal initially dates only conventionally beautiful women, while the hypnosis makes the gap between his perception and others' reactions central to the comedy.
Tony Robbins's hypnosis causes Hal to perceive Rosemary's inner beauty as physical beauty, driving the film's central dramatic irony.
The film combines Farrelly-style physical and social comedy with a tender love story and an explicit critique of superficial dating standards.
Rosemary's obesity shapes the characters' social reactions and the film's attempt to challenge assumptions about attractiveness, while also generating critical controversy.
Films like Shallow Hal, and why
Beauty and the Beast
shared romantic comedy structure, personal transformation, and emphasis on inner character over conventional attractiveness
The Nutty Professor
shared fantasy premise that alters how a protagonist perceives romantic desirability, combining comedy with a moral lesson
Bruce Almighty
shared broad comedy, relationship-centered self-improvement, and warm but conventional emotional resolution
Movie Details
- Directors
- Peter Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly
- Release Date
- 2001-11-01
- Runtime
- 114 min
- Rating
- 6.2 / 10 (3267)
Cast
- Jack Black
- Gwyneth Paltrow
- Jason Alexander
- Joe Viterelli
- Rene Kirby
- Bruce McGill
- Tony Robbins
- Susan Ward
- Zen Gesner
- Brooke Burns
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Shallow Hal about?
- A shallow dater’s enchanted change of perspective turns an unlikely romance into a broad, warm-hearted lesson about seeing beyond appearances.
- What is Shallow Hal like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Shallow Hal as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Shallow Hal violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Shallow Hal.
- What did critics think of Shallow Hal?
- Critics found the film warmer and more moving than earlier Farrelly comedies but less consistently funny, with a bland and sometimes clumsy execution.
- Which films are like Shallow Hal?
- Films with a similar feel include Beauty and the Beast, The Nutty Professor, and Bruce Almighty.
- How long is Shallow Hal?
- Shallow Hal runs 114 minutes.
- Where can I watch Shallow Hal?
- In United States, Shallow Hal is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
